Defending champions Umm Salal upstaged Al Rayyan 2-0 at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Saturday, November 16, 2024, to take their appointed place in the semifinals of 2024-2025 season QSL Cup.

Marouane Louadni (43rd minute) and Victor Lekhal (71st minute) scored for the winners.

The match was tight-fisted, especially for most part of the opening half, and Umm Salal’s solid defence dashed Al Rayyan’s hopes of making any breakthrough.

Al Rayyan were left frustrated despite repeated attempts including a potential one in the 31st minute when Khaled Ali Binsabaa had a great chance to strike after he broke into the danger zone following a long charge, but his kick was cut off by a chasing Umm Salal defender.

The Orange Fortress hit back just before the half-time whistle as Louadni headed home a fine curling ball off a free-kick taken (from about 10 yards away from the box) by Naim Abdulrazaq Al Aidouni.

Al Rayyan, in the second half too, pushed hard to find the equalizer but they lacked cohesion and many crosses in front of the goal went abegging with Umm Salal goalkeeper Landing Badji not having much to do.

In contrast, Al Rayyan custodian Fahad Younis had a field day and made umpteen saves for his team flying from one corner of the goal post to another.

Despite the goalie’s tight vigil, Umm Salal delivered a second knockout blow as unmarked captain Lekhal headed a fine long ball from Ali Said Al Muhannadi to dash Al Rayyan hopes of a comeback.